Media Releases

Yoorrook Justice Commission recommends a new independent police oversight authority Published on Monday 04, September 2023 The Police Accountability Project (PAP) supports the Yoorrook Justice Commission's recommendation for urgent reforms to the criminal justice system, including a new adequately resourced independent police oversight authority. Victoria needs a #PoliceOmbudsmanNow.

Calls for Victorian Government to reverse its decision to replace public housing across the state Published on Wednesday 20, September 2023 IMCL is calling on the Victorian Government to reverse its decision to have all public housing towers torn down by 2051. The replacement of these estates with private and social housing will not solve the housing crisis in this community, which is one comprised of vulnerable or marginalised people.

Capsicum spray class action filed against Victoria Police Published on Friday 02, September 2022 The Police Accountability Project at Inner Melbourne Community Legal and Phi Finney McDonald have launched a class action against the Victorian State Government over the actions of Victoria Police.

Say sorry and never let the hard lockdown happen again Published on Friday 02, July 2021 Public housing residents continue to be fearful one year on that the hard lockdown could happen again: Human rights and community lawyers urgently seek legal changes to protect against overreach of public safety powers

Response to Victorian Ombudsman's Scathing Report into the Public Housing Hard Lockdown Published on Thursday 17, December 2020 IMCL's response to the Victorian Ombudsman's report into the detention and treatment of public housing residents arising from the COVID-19 hard lockdown in July 2020.

Message to our community Published on Friday 17, July 2020 Message to our community regarding the public housing towers hard lockdown

No justification for paternalistic police presence on public housing estates Published on Sunday 12, July 2020 The continued police presence at the public housing tower block at 33 Alfred Street, North Melbourne, and the assembly of a wire fence 'exercise yard' are disproportionate, paternalistic and enforcement-first responses to a health issue which take away the residents' dignity and agency.

Community lawyers call for residents to have access to emergency leave Published on Wednesday 08, July 2020 Community lawyers are calling for public housing residents to have access to emergency leave, with reports that some public housing residents have been prevented from leaving in the event of a medical or other emergency, despite an exemption under the lockdown act permitting such leave.

Public Housing Hard Lockdowns Published on Sunday 05, July 2020 IMCL is extremely alarmed at the unprecedented impact on the liberty of public housing residents in our area.

Inner Melbourne Community Legal acknowledges the traditional owners of the land on which we work, the Boon wurrung and Wurundjeri peoples of the Kulin nation. We recognise that sovereignty was never ceded and pay our respects to their cultures and Elders past and present. This always was and always will be Aboriginal Land.

Everyone is welcome at Inner Melbourne Community Legal, regardless of race, religion, gender or sexuality.